The Ultimate Family Dynamics Quiz

Today's families come in all shapes and sizes: single parent families, divorced parent families, older parent families, younger parent families, extended families and so on. Family dynamics can greatly impact your child's emotional and intellectual well-being. Take this quiz and learn more about different family dynamics.

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Question 1 of 20

A nuclear family consists of:

husband, wife and children

The simplest version of a family is the nuclear family, which consists of husband, wife and children.

husband, wife, children and grandparents

husband and wife

Question 2 of 20

What should you do to prevent homesickness when you child is away from the home?

Let them take comfort items.

Write down your phone number for them.

both of the above

Homesickness is common, even for short periods of time, like a sleep over. Alleviate homesickness by letting your child take comfort items with them. You can also encourage your child to call you whenever they want.

Question 3 of 20

Siblings that are born close together treat each other as:

playmates

peers

both of the above

If you have children close in age, you may find that they are playmates and peers. It may almost seem like having twins.

Question 4 of 20

Parents have _____ expectations for firstborn children compared to later born children.

greater

Typically, parents have higher expectations for firstborn children. As much as parents want to treat their children equally, research shows that parents do treat their children differently depending on birth order.

lower

equal

Question 5 of 20

What are typical qualities of a firstborn child?

quiet, intelligent and hot-tempered

responsible, loyal and protective

Research shows that firstborn children are typically responsible, dependable, loyal and protective. In fact, on occasion, firstborn children take on a mini parent role in the family.

aggressive, jealous and ambitious

Question 6 of 20

What are typical qualities of a second-born child?

rebel, clown, entertainer and artist

troublemaker or peacemaker

both of the above

Second born children typically take on very different personalities compared to their firstborn counterparts. Characteristics of a second born child include: rebel, clown, entertainer, artist; and troublemaker or peacemaker.

Question 7 of 20

What is a common concern for only children?

parental pressure

social isolation

both of the above

Only children tend to experience more parent pressure. They also may lack peer social interaction and lag behind in developing social skills.

Question 8 of 20

What is an advantage of having a baby when you already have older children?

little sibling rivalry

teaches your older children about caring and compassion

both of the above

Adding a new baby to your already older existing family unit has its own benefits. You may see less sibling rivalry and having a new baby in the home can teach your older children about nurturing skills.

Question 9 of 20

How can you foster family cohesion?

Make sure your partner is involved with the birth of the children.

Plan activities as a family.

both of the above

Partners that are involved with the birth of their children are more likely to be involved with caring for a newborn. For older children, plan activities together by having regular family meetings.

Question 10 of 20

What factor has significantly changed the role of the extended family in recent years?

geographical isolation

Once upon a time, extended family members lived in the same home as the nuclear family. Times have definitely changed, as now it's more common for young couples to start a family far away from their extended families.

increase in lifespan

both of the above

Question 11 of 20

Extended families are more removed from the nuclear family in today's world. How does this impact children?

children are more dependent on their parents

Since today's kids have less contact with their extended family, they rely more on their parents for satisfying their emotional needs.

children have little respect for the elderly

both of the above

Question 12 of 20

How can you promote extended family involvement in your family?

create a “my family” photo album for your child

organize regular family reunions

both of the above

Extended family involvement may be difficult if you live far away. Make sure your child understands the importance of the extended family by making your child a “my family” photo album. You can also organize regular family reunions and trips home to further foster the extended family bond.

Question 13 of 20

According to American law, how much unpaid leave does a new mother get after giving birth?

6 weeks

12 weeks

According to the American Family and Medical Leave Act, new mothers get 12 weeks of job-protected, unpaid leave.

24 weeks

Question 14 of 20

What type of benefits due American companies typically provide working parents?

child care services

flex-time

both of the above

A business typically only provides benefits for working parents if the cost-benefit analysis tips in the business’ favor. Some large American companies offer on-site daycare services and flex-time for its employees.

Question 15 of 20

How can two working parents incorporate quality family time in their busy schedules?

Take relaxing family vacations.

Incorporate chores into playtime.

both of the above

Small children don't recognize the difference between chores and playtime, so kill two birds with one stone and make chores fun. In addition, take relaxing family vacations that focus on quality time with your family.

Question 16 of 20

If you separate from your spouse, you should:

be less strict with your kids

be just as strict with your kids

In the event of parent separation you need to be consistent with rules and routine. This is not the time to allow rules and structure to fall to the wayside.

be more strict with your kids

Question 17 of 20

How might your child react to the death of a parent?

denial and grief

anger and guilt

both of the above

Most children can understand the concept of loss but do not understand the abstract concept of the finality of death. Children may go through feelings of grief, denial, anger and guilt.

Question 18 of 20

What may be a drawback of having a child in midlife?

less energy

larger generation gap

both of the above

Some older parents may be concerned that they do not have enough energy to raise children. The larger generation gap between a teenager and an older parent may also be troublesome.

Question 19 of 20

What may be an advantage of having a child in midlife?

more life experience

more financial stability

both of the above

Older parents may have more wisdom, life experience and inner resources, leading to a better ability to raise children. Older parents may also be more financially stable compared to younger parents.

Question 20 of 20

Children born to mothers under the age of 20 are at risk for:

illness

educational and emotional problems

both of the above

Unfortunately, children born to mothers in their teens tend to have serious, and sometimes lifelong, issues. These children have a higher incidence of illness, lower intelligence scores, educational problems and emotional problems.